by Jim Gordon
JEPARIT RAINBOW V WALPEUP UNDERBOOL
In windy conditions, Jeparit Rainbow hosted Walpeup Underbool in a match they desperately needed to win to keep in touch with the four. It was not to be.
This was probably Jeparit Rainbow’s worst performance for the year. The Lakers let themselves down badly in a game that should have been a celebration, but turned into a wake. It was Life Members’ Day and it was stalwart of the club Andrew Hiscock’s 200th.
On a more positive note, it looks like Walpeup Underbool are slowly getting back to some of their early season form that saw them seriously challenging for a top four spot. With Jeremy Rowe, Kane Munro and Darren Latta still on the sidelines, this was a very good win away from home.
It was the Adelaide imports who did the damage for the Roos. Luke Nathan Samuel McDonald and Matthew Palmer were all outstanding, as they have been even when Walpeup Underbool were battling. The difference was this week that they had others around them who stood up and joined in the action.
Chris Lynch has been down lately, but he had a great game from the backline. Clayton Lynch has been in and out of the side and he did a lot of damage either playing forward or on the ball.
Jeparit Rainbow coach Luke Werner was critical of his teams’ poor disposal skills and poor decision making. He pointed out that too much was left to too few. Only for an all to brief period in the third quarter did Jeparit Rainbow look like matching it with Walpeup Underbool.
The Lakers didn’t have an avenue to goal and with Ben Zanker languishing in the seconds, their short term future looks bleak.
Heath Clugston is an exception. Clugston was outstanding, the Lakers’ only clear winner for the day, he just kept putting his body on the line even when the game was well out of reach for his team.
Tyler Edelston as a young key defender stood up playing on Wade Champion whom he held to just two goals. Edelston was badly outsized, but he fought back gallantly after being badly beaten by Champion in the first quarter.
Daniel Grieg suffered a leg injury in the second quarter weakening the Jeparit Rainbow defence so Edelston had to play on Champion for the whole game.
Luke Werner tried hard to lift the team, Ben Marra and Justin Chilver although not outstanding games, never gave up trying, but the Lakers needed more players to follow their example.
The Roos play Beulah at Underbool next week and then they have the bye giving some of their injured players a chance to recover and get back into the side.
HOPETOUN V WOOMELANG LASCELLES
In a game that showed the huge advantage of having dominant key forwards, Hopetoun was able to win well at home against a battling Woomelang Lascelles. Kane Robbins and Bryce Wellington both kicked seven for the Devils and with a dominant midfield, the damage could have been even greater than the final margin of eleven goals.
This was a must win for both clubs. Hopetoun had the chance to consolidate their spot in the four and Woomelang Lascelles were desperate to win and keep in touch with the four.
In a best on ground performance, Hopetoun’s Chis Heath dominated in the centre winning many clearances. Luke Milroy was again prolific. He is having a great season and once gained showed his value with an ability to gain plenty of possessions in and around the centre.
Devil Zac Taggert straightens up his side. With sheer brute strength in the centre, he was often able to brush aside Cat midfielders. Hopetoun rucking duties were handed to Simon Cook and once again he showed that he is able to excel in this position. His ruck work went a long way to explaining the dominance of the Hopetoun midfield.
When they did get the ball forward, Woomelang Lascelles struggled against the Hopetoun defence. It was left to Chris Smith to score three of their goals and Jayden Lonergan tried hard all day and scored one.
Hopetoun’s Ben Reid was rock solid in defence. This youngster has really matured this season and was well supported by Steve Hallam and Leigh Hutchinson. Scott Heath and Quentin Willmott are also in great form providing plenty of drive off the half back line.
The Cats look like their season is in tatters after this loss. They were beaten in the centre and never came to terms with the dominance of Kane Robins across half forward and Bryce Wellington.
In a game of great control by the Devils, they have set themselves up for a realistic tilt at the four and with a winnable game against he Tigers next week they are looking good.
OUYEN UNITED V SEA LAKE NANDALY TIGERS
Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers threw everything they had at Ouyen United in the first quarter of this important clash at Blackburn Park. They did well to hold United to only three goals with the wind, but could not go on with their good work and were outscored two goals to four when they had the wind in the second term.
The final difference of nearly ten goals was a clear indication of the difference between the top two in the MFL and the rest of the sides. Unless something out of the ordinary happens between now and September, it looks like a Beulah v Ouyen United Grand Final.
Over the last few weeks Jarrod Alderton has been playing very good football for the Tigers. This week he met his match in Andrew Jardine who completely shut him down. Jardine plays tough and tight and is able to win the ball on his own merits and drive it long into attack.
Jarrod Munro was another Demon to stand out in the backline. He was able to get on top of Mark Duescher early and put the dangerous forward out of the game and kept him goaless.
Damon Healy played his best game so far for United. He kicked two goals from half forward and at times had a run on the ball. Bradley Vallance worked hard as he always does, but was held to only one goal by Luke Martin who was one of the Tigers’ best.
After quarter time Ouyen United slowly but surely got on top all over the ground. The resurgence was initiated by the usual gang of suspects in the midfield, Glenn Joyce, Marc Hahnel and Brett Knowles, but another to shine was young Kale Barker on the wing.
Barker saw a lot of the ball and was able to use his pace to advantage, but probably the most pleasing aspect of his game was his ability to win the contested ball.
Jeremy Weinert was Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers’ best whether he played up forward or the midfield. Without his three goals, the Tiger scoreboard would have looked very bare.
Sonny Lindsey played well at full forward. He was up against Nathan Wight and got a solid five goals mainly by leading and marking rather than scouting around the goalsquare. Dom Leach kicked two from his pocket.
In a game marred somewhat by a strong breeze, Ouyen United proved to be far too good for Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers who contested well early, but fell away under the relentless Demon pressure. United have the bye next week and with no injuries to speak of, the break should allow them to recharge and get ready for the run home to finals football and another meeting with the Blues. It seems inevitable.
Last Modified on 03/07/2011 12:36
